Aortic Aneurysm, Symptoms and Treatment Methods

Aorta is the main artery that sends clean blood from the heart to the whole body. After the aorta leaves the heart, it continues down to the chest, abdomen and then the legs. An aortic aneurysm is an aortic aneurysm when the aorta, the main artery leaving the heart, balloons from time to time as a result of age-related or weakness in the wall of the aortic vessel. The balloon can sometimes be a whole or cover both walls completely. The vein can also rupture from within itself. Its ballooning is called aortic enlargement, and its internal rupture is called aortic dissection. Both conditions require urgent surgery and need to be admitted to the hospital without delay. Of course, the risk may be a little high when performing this emergency surgery. If it is late, the patient's complaint is very high. The complaint, which starts with pain, can even lead to shock. For this reason, even though it is not clear whether surgery has been performed or not, it is beneficial to have annual check-ups first. Considering the process that causes death due to expansion and rupture of aortic aneurysm, early diagnosis is extremely important.

Article Content

1. What is Aortic Aneurysm?

2. What is Aortic Dissection?

3. Complaints of Aortic Aneurysm Patients

4. Aortic Aneurysm Diagnosis

5. Causes of Aortic Aneurysm

6. Symptoms of Aortic Aneurysm

7. Aortic Aneurysm Treatment Methods

8. Non-Surgical Aortic Aneurysm Treatment

1. What is Aortic Aneurysm?

The enlargement and ballooning that occurs in the aorta, the main artery that carries clean blood to other parts of the body after leaving the heart, is called aortic aneurysm. Excessive dilatation of the aortic vessel can cause the vessel to rupture or burst, thus endangering vital functions.
The aneurysm occurring in the area where the aorta exits the heart is "ascending aortic aneurysm", the aneurysm occurring in the chest cavity region is "thoracic aortic aneurysm", and the one occurring in the abdominal cavity region is "abdominal aortic aneurysm".

2. What is Aortic Dissection?

Aortic dissection is a condition that occurs when the aortic vessel suddenly ruptures from within and requires urgent intervention. Depending on the area where it occurs, it may show symptoms such as severe chest pain, pain in the abdomen, back and arms, and sudden fainting may occur. If it occurs in the main vessels leading to the brain, symptoms of stroke such as numbness and loss of movement may occur. In the surgical treatment of aortic dissection, the ruptured vessel is replaced with an artificial vessel. The later the aortic dissection is intervened, the greater the risk. The surgery may become more complicated depending on the condition of the tear and the vessels it affects. Therefore, in case of aortic dissection, the patient must be intervened without wasting time.

3. Complaints of Aortic Aneurysm Patients

Aortic enlargement may often cause no symptoms. It may be detected incidentally during some examinations. In aortic aneurysm, which is among the leading causes of sudden death, the aortic vessel balloons and the vessel bursts due to the increase in this ballooning. On the other hand, in some cases, aortic enlargement may cause pain in the area where it occurs. For example, aortic dilatation occurring in the aortic vessel in the abdominal area can manifest itself by causing pain there. Pain may also occur in the chest and back areas.

4.Diagnosis of Aortic Aneurysm

The definitive diagnosis of aortic aneurysm is made by ultrasonography, angiography, computerized angiography and MR angiography.

5. Causes of Aortic Aneurysm 

• genetic factors
• Structural defects in the vascular wall
• connective tissue diseases
• High blood pressure and smoking are among the factors that increase the risk factors of the disease.

6. Aortic Aneurysm Symptoms 

Aortic aneurysm may often not cause symptoms. It may be detected incidentally during some examinations. In some cases, aortic enlargement may progress without any symptoms, but sometimes it may cause symptoms by causing pain in the chest, back, or abdomen, depending on the region where it occurs.

7. Aortic Aneurysm Treatment Methods 

Treatment methods for aortic aneurysm are interventional endovascular methods and surgical intervention. Necessary evaluations are made according to the region where the aortic aneurysm occurs and the condition of the vascular structure, and the treatment method to be applied is decided according to the patient's condition. Early diagnosis is extremely important in the treatment of this disease, as aortic aneurysm can progress without any symptoms or occur suddenly and cause the aortic vessel to burst or rupture. Therefore, especially people with a family history of aneurysm and people with risk factors must have the necessary checks and examinations.

8. Non-Surgical Aortic Aneurysm Treatment

In the treatment of aortic aneurysm, endovascular treatment is possible if the patient and vascular structure are suitable. In this method, known as the closed method, the aorta is reached through the groin area and the aortic vessel in the area where enlargement and ballooning occurs, and the necessary intervention is performed. In this way, the aneurysm is treated without interfering with any tissue.

Aortic dilatation, which is among the causes of sudden death, is a condition that requires urgent intervention. Therefore, the later the aortic aneurysm is intervened, the greater the risk of losing the patient. In addition, it is extremely important to detect aortic aneurysm and apply the necessary treatment before the vessel bursts due to excessive expansion and ballooning. It should not be forgotten that aortic aneurysm is a disease that can progress insidiously without causing any symptoms.